Amazon recently laid off hundreds of workers in New York, as reported by The Post.
In January, around 135 employees at 1140 Broadway lost their jobs, according to state Department of Labor documents filed this week.
Furthermore, an additional 165 Amazon workers in New York are also set to be laid off, with government records anticipated to reflect these changes soon, according to sources familiar with the situation.
These layoffs are part of the broader plan involving 16,000 job cuts announced last month. Back in October, Amazon let go of another 14,000 corporate positions. This restructuring is primarily driven by investments in artificial intelligence, alongside what many refer to as an oversaturation of employment during the pandemic.
CEO Andy Jassy has managed to reduce nearly 10% of Amazon’s workforce over the last three months.
Last year, he mentioned that while new technology could lead to job creation, it also presents the possibility for “improved efficiency” that might shrink the workforce.
“Some of the work that is being done now will need to be done with fewer people,” Jassy noted in a statement back in June.
He further emphasized that extensive use of AI across the company is expected to enhance efficiency, ultimately reducing total workforce needs.
Amazon does not publicly share specifics on which locations are experiencing layoffs, making government filings the primary source for this information.
The company has chosen not to comment on its Labor Department filing.
In a blog post from January, Beth Galetti, senior vice president of human resources, mentioned efforts to strengthen the organization by trimming layers, enhancing ownership, and cutting down bureaucracy.
Last year was particularly challenging for New York City, with nearly 1,000 positions lost across nine Amazon sites.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives commented that these recent cuts are likely minor and concentrated on technology-related roles.
He noted that Amazon has worked to establish a solid foothold in New York’s tech scene and that these layoffs could complicate those efforts. Other tech companies in New York might take advantage of this situation to attract top talent, he added.
